Operating hours of 54 Community Internet Centres at PPR extended
KUALA LUMPUR:
The government and telecommunications companies (telcos) have agreed to extend the operating hours of 54 Community Internet Centres (PIK) at People's Housing Schemes (PPR) nationwide, according to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
MCMC in a statement yesterday said the move involved 17 PIK in the Federal Territories and 37 in other states to facilitate Internet access to students and those in the B40 group who live in these areas, following the announcement of the Malaysian Economic and People's Protection Assistance Package (PERMAI), recently.
“The PIK have been open from 9 am to 9 pm daily except for public holidays since Jan 8 and the new operating hours will continue until the end of April.
“It his hoped this step will help households and students, especially those sitting for the 2021 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations to follow lessons and carry out daily dealings online at affordable rates and in a comfortable environment at the PIK,” MCMC said.
Apart from this, MCMC said 130 PPR nationwide have been identified to receive free WiFi access which will be provided by the main telco players.
“So far, free WiFi is available at 121 PPR while the other nine are expected come on board on Feb 5. “The step was taken encourage PPR residents to use online platforms to increase economic activities, to be alert to current developments and raise skills,” the commission said.
In the wake the facilities and privileges provided, MCMC said the commission and the telcos hope PPR residents, students and the people as a whole, benefit in terms of academic achievement and generation of supplementary income via online business activities.
“This Initiative is part of MCMC's efforts to narrow the digital gap so that the less fortunate are not left out of development based on digital technology,” it added.
MCMC also announced that the provision of free 1GB data daily that started in April 2020 will be extended until the end of April, with the cost for this year exceeding RM500 million.
The main telcos are also offering special subscription packages to students who will be sitting for the SPM, STPM and students of higher educational institutions (IPT), that were implemented since Jan 6 and will be available till April, where data pass for 15GB is as low as RM20 a month.
They also provide free tuition classes online like Tuisyen Rakyat by Celcom, Jom Tuisyen (Digi), e-Kelas (Maxis) and I-Learn Ace (Telekom Malaysia) while YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (YTL) is extending its Learn From Home (LFH) initiative until April 30 that also encompasses IPT students, the statement said.